Did Darth Vader Do תשובה?

Have any of you watched the classic STAR WARS series of films? There are six in all and word is that Disney (which bought the STAR WARS rights) is producing even more...The six films currently in existence focus primarily on the main character names DARTH VADER, who he is, where he came from, and how he became the "Dark Lord." In his youth, his young adult self names Annakin Skywalker discovers the extent of his abilities and his lust for power and depth of his anger cause him to "go dark." His entire life is spent as a master of the Dark Side of the Force. However, when the crucial moment comes for him to choose between the Dark Side (his master the Emperor) and the Jedi (his own son), Vader finds love and sacrifices his own life to save his son, the Jedi, and the free world. By the end of the final movie, the audience becomes sympathetic with Darth Vader and he is transformed from evil to good in the eyes of most. However, in examining the actions of Darth Vader at the end of STAR WARS: Episode 6 (The Return of the Jedi) through a Jewish lens, one may think of the question...Did Darth Vader Do תשובה?

Before considering an answer to the question, watch the following video clips, capturing "highlights" of the life of Darth Vader.

Annakin Skywalker goes to the Dark Side

The Fall of Annakin Skywalker; The Rise of Darth Vader

Darth Vader chooses good over evil and reconciles with his son in the end.

There are many teachings on the subject of תשובה. Among the very most well-known ones are the steps prescribed by Rambam (Maimonides). Here they are as a list. You will use these steps when you analyze the actions of Darth Vader.

Rambam's Seven Steps of תשובה

1. הבנה - Understanding - Understanding that one has done something wrong
2. עצירה - Stopping - Stopping the improper behavior
3. החלטה - Resolving - Resolving not to repeat the improper behavior
4. חרטה - Regretting - Genuinely regretting the improper behavior
5. בקשה - Requesting Forgiveness - Either from God in prayer or from the person, requesting forgiveness for the improper behavior
6. הבטחה - Committing/Promising - Making a verbal commitment never to repeat the same improper behavior
7. הצלחה - Success - When presented with the same situation again, the improper behavior is not repeated.

Four Quotations from Our Rabbis about תשובה

TEXT 1: Reb Simcha Bunim said: "True repentenace does not occur when you say you're sorry. True repentence occurs when you find yourself in the same situation and you do not sin."	TEXT 2: "If people's sins die with them, they can receive complete pardon. However, if the fruit of their sins remains after their death, they cannot be completely forgiven." Talmud Yerushalmi, Shabbat 9:3
TEXT 3: There are five kinds of people whose sins have no easy path to forgiveness: One who sins many ways One who repents many times for the same sin. One who sins in a sinless time period. One who sins in order to repent. One who causes the holy name to be profaned. Avot D'Rabbi Natan	TEXT 4:There was a wicked man whose wicked deeds were widely known. Once, however, he was seen to perform a deed which seemed to be a positive and good action, and yet it contained a slight possibility of being evil. The right thing to do is be careful and wary of him and not believe that it is good since it contains the possibility of being evil. Maimonides, Commentary on Pirkei Avot.

Questions:

1) Think about what Darth Vader did to the Emperor and then said to his son before he died. Now, carefully read Rambam's 7 steps of t'shuva. How many of the steps do you think Darth Vader completed? Please list them and explain your answer.

2) Read TEXT 1 above. If Darth Vader was to go to Reb Simcha Bunim and ask him if he had done t'shuva, what would he say? Explain your answer.

3) What does the term "fruit of his sins" mean to you? Did the fruit of Darth Vader's sins die with him or did they last beyond his death? How would the Talmud Yerushalmi rule in a case about Darth Vader's t'shuva?

4) Read TEXT 3. Does Darth Vader fall into any of the categories of people described in this text? Would Darth Vader have an easy path to forgiveness? Explain.

5) Read TEXT 4. Would Maimonides trust or question Darth Vader's motives and behavior at the end of his life?

6) George Lucas (the director of the STAR WARS movies) has an opinion about whether or not Darth Vader did t'shuva, even it he didn't intend to tell us. Watch the following clip of the very end of the series as the Jedi and rebels are celebrating their victory in the war and the end of the evil Empire and see how he "voices" his opinion. The Jedi masters reappear. Do you agree or disagree with George Lucas?